Handle for a housing for a portable x-ray device

ABSTRACT

A handle for a housing of a portable X-ray device includes an annular base body. The annular base body includes a holding part and a mounting part. A mounting device is disposed in the mounting part and includes two wheels spaced apart from one another on a common axle and a recess between the two wheels, wherein the two wheels protrude beyond an outer contour of the annular base body. Connecting straps are disposed on the holding part and configured to connect the annular base body to the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C.§371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2010/004810, filed on Aug.5, 2010, and claims benefit to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2009036 399.8, filed on Aug. 6, 2009. The International Application waspublished in German on Feb. 10, 2011 as WO 2011/015361 under PCT Article21(2).

FIELD

The invention relates to a handle for a housing for a portable X-raydevice.

BACKGROUND

Some portable X-ray devices can be carried by one or two people and canthus also be used in the open. They are used for example to check pipesfor cracks or the quality of the weld seams connecting them. Suchportable X-ray devices, such as for example the Y.XPO 225 model of theapplicant, have a metallic housing which is formed substantiallyrotation-symmetrical about its longitudinal axis—apart from an X-rayexit window and connections for, for example, an external power supply.However, the diameter of the housing in question can vary, depending onwhich parts of it are housed where. Attached to each of the two ends ofthe housing is a carrier ring which is formed substantially like adriving wheel of a motor vehicle and has a circular bar by which theX-ray device can be held securely by the people carrying it. However,the portable X-ray devices have the disadvantage that they have to belifted by the people carrying them to pass between two successive pointsfor examination and have to be set down again at the new site where thenext point for examination is.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a handle for a housingof a portable X-ray device. The handle includes an annular base body.The annular base body includes a holding part and a mounting part. Amounting device is disposed in the mounting part and includes two wheelsspaced apart from one another on a common axle and a recess between thetwo wheels, wherein the two wheels protrude beyond an outer contour ofthe annular base body. Connecting straps are disposed on the holdingpart and configured to connect the annular base body to the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in even greater detail belowbased on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to theexemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages of variousembodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading thefollowing detailed description with reference to the attached drawingswhich illustrate the following:

FIG. 1 two handles according to an embodiment of the invention on ahousing for a portable X-ray device with mounting devices on both endsin an upright position,

FIG. 2 a perspective view of the handle represented in FIG. 1 at thebottom without housing, represented on a tubular object for testing,

FIG. 3 a front view of the handle represented in FIG. 2 from a directionfrom below in FIG. 1, represented on a tubular object for testing,

FIG. 4 the rear view of the handle from FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 the view of the handle in the direction from below in FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 the view of the handle from above in FIG. 3 and

FIG. 7 the view of the handle from the left in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An aspect of the invention provides a handle for such a housing for aportable X-ray device in such a way that it is possible to pass moreeasily from one recording point to another recording point.

In an embodiment, because the holding part of the handle is connected toa mounting device in which two spaced-apart wheels are arranged on anaxle, the whole X-ray device, to which a handle according to anembodiment of the invention is attached, no longer has to be lifted fromthe ground or from the object to be examined in order to move it fromone recording point to another, but can be pulled by means of thewheels. This requires the exertion of significantly less force thanlifting and displacing. Movement is possible as the wheels protrudebeyond the contour of the base body, with the result that duringmovement the housing does not rest over a surface—at least if this doesnot have excessively large steps—but the wheels always represent theoutermost part of the whole device. As many portable X-ray devicesalready have a handle on the housing—as a rule even one at eachend—there is no need to attach an additional element to the housing, butthis can be realized by an integration into the already present handleor handles.

An advantageous development of the invention provides that in themounting device a fixing device is formed for fixing the wheelsvis-à-vis the mounting device. It is thus ensured that the X-ray devicecan be fixed in its position during a recording (unless it is located onsloping ground). Other fixing devices, for example locking by engagementof pins in holes in the wheels or by brake shoes which grip on thewheels (such as in the case of disc brakes), can be used to fix thewheels. As such designs are familiar to a person skilled in the art andtheir specific design is not an issue according to an embodiment of theinvention, further examples of this with precise embodiment will not begiven.

A further advantageous development of the invention provides that thefixing device has a fixing handle projecting beyond the mounting device.Through such a fixing handle it is possible to effect the fixing of thewheels in a particularly simple manner. This can even happen with only asingle hand as a rule with such a design, with the result that the X-raydevice can be clamped at the desired place with the other hand in themeantime. A single person is also sufficient for this.

A further advantageous development of the invention provides that therecess between the two wheels is arc-shaped. Through such an arc-shapedrecess, the mounting device can very advantageously be fitted onto atubular body, for example a pipeline tube. The wheels are then still incontact with the tube casing and the part of the mounting device lyingin between does not rest on the tube casing. It is thus ensured that theX-ray device can be moved along the tube casing by means of a rollingmovement of the wheels and there is no need to pull with a slidingmovement on a part of the mounting device, which would involve theexertion of much more force and under certain circumstances cause damageto the tube casing. It is preferred if the recess does not extend as faras the axle. It may also be mentioned that in respect of the used circleradius the recess can be adapted to the diameters of the tubular objectsto be examined with the portable X-ray device. This means that in thecase of smaller tube diameters the arc-shaped recess cuts in deeper inthe direction of the axle of the wheels than in the case of largerdiameters of tubular objects to be checked. In particular when the sizeof the wheels is matched to the distance between them, tubular objectsfor examination either with very small diameters—then it is advisable toplace the wheels closer together or to make them larger—or with a largerdiameter can thus be examined.

A further advantageous development of the invention provides that theholding part is formed as a carrier ring. It is thereby possible notonly that a particularly good movement of the X-ray device can occurbetween two recording points, but also that it can be satisfactorilytaken to the object to be examined or removed from the object to beexamined after the end of the examination. Thus, the X-ray device canfor example also be carried over uneven ground to a vehicle in which itcan then be taken away again to its location at the company that isusing it.

A further advantageous development of the invention provides that theholding part is formed in one plane. This makes it easier to grip thehandle, as this always leads to the same grip plane, irrespective of theposition of the portable X-ray device on which the handle is located.

A further advantageous development of the invention provides that thehandle is formed symmetrical to a plane of symmetry which isperpendicular to the plane and the two wheels are the same distance fromit. The portable X-ray device on which the handle is arranged is thusarranged centrally on a tubular body to be examined and a lateralslipping on the body to be examined is hindered.

A further advantageous development of the invention provides that themounting part is not in the plane, and the axle runs parallel to theplane. This makes it easier to shift the portable X-ray device on whichthe handle is arranged from one site of the tubular body to be examinedto another site of the same body, as rolling along on one of two handleswhich are attached to both ends of the housing of the portable X-raydevice is guaranteed, in particular when lifted from one side.

A further advantageous development of the invention provides that thehandle is attached to a housing for a portable X-ray device with alongitudinal axis and a maximum diameter perpendicular to the latter,wherein the axle is aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis andthe wheels protrude at least partially beyond the housing at the maximumdiameter in a projection along the longitudinal axis. Because the axleis aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and thus substantiallyparallel to the diameter of the housing, the movement along thelongitudinal axis can be carried out without the need for the exertionof additional force perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. As a result,a significantly simpler X-ray device procedure can thus be carried outcompared with carrying the X-ray device.

A further advantageous development of the invention provides that thewheels are the same distance from the longitudinal axis. It is thusensured that a tilting of the X-ray device relative to the longitudinalaxis during the process, as occurs when the wheels are arranged on onlyone side, does not occur. This makes it much easier to move the X-raydevice from one recording point to the other. For a person skilled inthe art, it is clear that a slight difference in the distances from thewheels to the longitudinal axis also has the same effect and thus theeffect according to an embodiment of the invention is also achieved withsubstantially the same distance.

A further advantageous development of the invention provides that thehandle is connected to a first end of the housing. It is thus firstlyensured that an additional element does not have to be added to thehousing of the portable X-ray device, as the handle is already there.Secondly, such a handle is always located at an end of the housing, withthe result that by simply taking hold of the other end of the housing,where a second handle is as a rule already mounted, the rolling pullingor pushing movement between two recording points can be easily carriedout by a single person. This can be compared to a wheeled suitcase whichhas two rollers at its one, lower end and a handle for pulling at itsopposite, upper end. Because at the same time a second handle accordingto an embodiment of the invention is connected to a second end of thehousing, the movement of the X-ray device is simplified still further.It is not even necessary any longer for the case given here with twohandles for the person moving the X-ray device between two recordingpoints to lift this using a handle and roll the X-ray device only on thetwo wheels of the other handle, but in the given case it is possible tomove the whole of the X-ray device on four wheels, thus without anydanger of tilting. This further simplifies the handling. It isparticularly advantageous if the axles of the two mounting devices,viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis, are substantiallycongruent.

A further advantageous development of the invention provides that therecesses of the two mounting devices of the two handles, viewed in thedirection of the longitudinal axis, are congruent. It is thus ensuredfor tubular objects for testing which have a uniform diameter over thelength—such as for example pipeline tubes—that the object to be examinedis not set on the tube casing at a mounting device attached to the twohandles. For a person skilled in the art, it is clear that the sameeffect according to an embodiment of the invention is also achieved witha merely substantial congruence.

Two handles 17, 21 according to an embodiment of the invention, inconjunction with a housing 1 for a portable X-ray device, arerepresented in FIG. 1. Both the first handle 17 attached to its firstend 2 and the second handle 21 attached to its second end 3 have in eachcase a holding part 18 and a mounting part 19. The two holding parts 18are each formed as a carrier ring. The two mounting parts 19 areequipped with a first mounting device 10 and a second mounting device 20respectively. The housing 1 has a longitudinal axis 4 (in FIG. 1 thecentral longitudinal axis of the housing 1 is shown) and two sectionswith different diameters 5. Depending on the design, there are alsoportable X-ray devices the housings 1 of which have the same diameter 5throughout. In the embodiment example represented, the housing 1 has itsmaximum diameter 5 in the upper area of the second end 3 which isconnected to the second mounting device 20. The different diameters 5along the longitudinal axis 4 of the housing 1 are due to the design,well known to a person skilled in the art, of the X-ray tube that iscontained in the housing 1. As these are not integral to the invention(any more than the X-ray tube per se), they are not discussed in moredetail below. The same also applies to any connections present on thehousing 1 for example for a power supply for the high-voltage generationmeans integrated in the housing.

In the area of the housing 1 which has a smaller diameter 5 an X-raywindow 6 through which the X-ray tube contained in the housing 1 emitsits X-radiation during operation can be seen added to the first end 2.

The first mounting device 10 according to an embodiment of the inventionis connected to the first end 2 of the housing 1 via two connectingstraps 16 (only one is to be seen, stylized—the specific design can beseen in FIGS. 2 to 7). This is a connection that can be released, forexample by screwing. However, as the manner of securing the connectingstraps 16 to the housing 1 is not essential to the invention and is wellknown to a person skilled in the art, it is not discussed in more detailbelow.

The first mounting device 10 has a first wheel 12 and a second wheel 13,between which an arc-shaped recess 14 is formed. The two wheels 12, 13and the recess 14 are integrated into a first handle 17 as constituentsof the first mounting device 10. Further details on the design of thefirst mounting device 10 within the first handle 17 are found below inreference to the FIGS. 2 to 7 in which this can be seen more clearly.

The second mounting device 20 is connected to the housing 1 viaconnecting straps 22 at the opposite second end 3 of the housing 1. Thesecond mounting device 20 is integrated into a second handle 21. Thedesign of the second mounting device 20, its integration into the secondhandle 21 and its connection to the housing 1 are essentially the sameas in the case of the first mounting device 10. A description in moredetail of the design of the second mounting device 20 is thereforedispensed with in the following, but reference is made to the analogousstatements relating to the first mounting device 10 within the firsthandle 17—as described in the following on FIGS. 2 to 7.

In each of FIGS. 2 to 4, a representation of the whole of the firsthandle 17 with holding part 18 and mounting part 19 seen from differentdirections and its co-operation with a tube 30 to be examined is shown.FIG. 2 shows a perspective view, FIG. 3 a front view from the directionfacing away from the housing 1 (see FIG. 1)—thus seen from below in FIG.1—and FIG. 4 a rear view from the opposite direction to FIG. 3, thusseen from above in FIG. 1. The housing 1 is not represented in thesefigures, the better to represent the essential elements of theinvention. In the following, FIGS. 2 to 4 and the features that can beseen in them are described together.

The design of the first handle 17 over large areas is like a circularring with a circular cross-section. If the whole of this circular ringwere of this design, a carrier ring, such as is known from the state ofthe art, would be obtained in order that the portable X-ray device canbe carried from one place to the other without problem by one or twopeople (depending on the size and weight). Unlike the handles known fromthe state of the art, part of the first handle 17 according to anembodiment of the invention—in this case the mounting part—is notsuitable for carrying, but is formed as a first mounting device 10. Inthe representation it is the lower area of the first handle 17. Thefirst mounting device 10 has an axle 11 about which a first wheel 12 anda second wheel 13 rotate. By an axle 11 within the meaning of theinvention is meant any type of axle—thus both fixed and rotatingaxles—but also all types of shafts. The axle 11 also need not becontinuous over the whole width, but can for example be formedseparately for each individual wheel 12, 13. The mounting of the axle 11or the wheels 12, 13 on the axle 11 is not essential to the inventionand is known to a person skilled in the art; all known types of mountingcan be used.

A fixing device (of which only a fixing handle 15 is represented) whichserves to lock the rotation of the wheels 12, 13 acts on the two wheels12, 13. Such fixing devices are also sufficiently known to a personskilled in the art—for example in the form of a disc brake or theengagement of a pin in openings within the wheels 12, 13—with the resultthat there is no need to discuss the design more precisely. The fixingdevice is operated in the embodiment example by a fixing handle 15 whichprojects inwards over the first mounting device 10 to the centre of thefirst handle 17. By means of this fixing handle 15, the fixing devicecan easily be operated with one hand, with the result that the X-raydevice, while it is secured at the desired position with one hand by theoperator, can be fixed with the other hand by actuating the fixinghandle 15.

The two wheels 12, 13 are spaced apart and are the same distance fromthe longitudinal axis 4 of the housing 1 (not represented in FIG. 2). Asa result of this, the longitudinal axis 4 of the housing 1 is arrangedcentrally over the longitudinal axis of the tube 30 after fitting thefirst mounting device 10 on the tube 30. Compared with an arrangement ofthe wheels 12, 13 in which the second wheel 13 for example would bearranged directly on the connecting line between the longitudinal axis 4of the housing 1 and the longitudinal axis of the tube 30, a tilting ofthe X-ray device on the tube 30 is thus reduced.

Moreover, a recess 14 between the two wheels 12, 13 can still be clearlyseen in FIGS. 2 to 4. This recess 14 has an arc shape in its top view(thus FIGS. 3 and 4). Over the depth of the first mounting device 10,this means that the recess 14 has the shape of a cylindrical jacket,wherein however in the embodiment example sections tapering to differentextents towards the front side and the rear side (see FIGS. 3 and 4) ofthe first mounting device 10 form. The recess 14 leads—as can be clearlyseen in FIGS. 2 to 4—to the first mounting device 10 not resting on thetube 30 if the two wheels 12, 13 rest on the tube surface. This meansthat the first handle 17 and thus also the whole X-ray device can bepushed or pulled on the wheels 12, 13 over the tube 30 without the firstmounting device 10 dragging on the tube 30. Very little force is thusneeded to shift the X-ray device on the tube 30; moreover the surface ofthe tube 30 is spared when there is a shift, as there is no abrasionsuch as occurs during a sliding movement of the first mounting device10.

The shape of the recess 14 (in particular its radius of curvature) isadvantageously chosen such that, depending on the diameter of the wheels12, 13 and their distance from each other on the axle 11, a freemovement is ensured without the first mounting device 10 resting on thetube 30 to be examined. Given a constant distance between the two wheels12, 13 and a constant diameter of these wheels 12, 13, this means thatin the case of smaller diameters of the tube 30 to be examined theradius of curvature of the recess 14 must be smaller, which leads to adeeper recess 14 (in FIGS. 3 and 4, thus a recess 14 projecting furtherupwards). It is to be borne in mind that the recess 14 cannot extendupwards over the lower end of the axle 11 in the case of a continuousaxle 11, as otherwise the axle 11 is exposed and this would rest on thesurface of the tube 30. With a divided axle 11, this problem does notexist, as no axle 11 is then formed in the area between the two wheels12, 13.

Moreover, the arrangement of the two connecting straps 16 and theirspecific design can also be seen in FIGS. 2 to 4. These start from theinner surface of the first handle 17 and then extend at their end in acurve substantially parallel to the housing 1. In the area of their end,bores are provided via which they can be connected to the housing 1, forexample by screwing.

FIG. 5 shows, on an enlarged scale, the view of the first handle 17 frombelow onto the mounting part 19 (based on FIGS. 3 and 4). The recess 14can be seen between the two wheels 12, 13 and the different degrees oftaper in the direction of the housing 1 (not represented) downwards orupwards away from this. The axle 11 is indicated dashed only in the areaof the second wheel 13. Furthermore the two opposite connecting straps16 formed on the first handle 17 can be seen.

FIG. 6 is a view onto the holding part 18 of the first handle 17 withthe first mounting device 10 from the opposite direction to thatrepresented in FIG. 5 (thus from above in FIGS. 3 and 4). The uppercurvature of the first handle 17 formed as a carrier ring can easily beseen, above which the wheels 12, 13 which are mounted in the firstmounting device 10 project in the lower area.

Finally, FIG. 7 shows a side view (from the left in FIG. 3) of the firsthandle 17. It can easily be seen that the connecting strap 16 is formedon the holding part 18 symmetrical to the longitudinal axis 4 of thehousing 1. In addition, it will be seen that the first handle 17 isslightly bent in the area of the mounting part 19 where the firstmounting device 10 is formed. The bend points from the plane which iscovered by the (partial) ring shape of the first handle 17 in thedirection of the housing 1 (thus to the left in FIG. 7). The bend is sosharp that the front edge of the first wheel 12 (on the right in thefigure—thus pointing away from the housing 1) is formed approximately inalignment with the first handle 17. The first wheel 12 rotates about theaxle 11.

As already stated above, the second mounting device 20 in the secondhandle 21 according to an embodiment of the invention is formedessentially the same as the first mounting device 10 in the first handle17. As a result of this the longitudinal axis 4 of the housing 1 liesparallel to the surface of the tube 30 when the X-ray device rests onthe wheels 12, 13 (there are then four wheels in total) on the tube 30.A particularly simple and effort-saving movement of the X-ray device onthe tube 30 is thereby ensured. This can be accomplished without problemby one person or optionally two people—if the X-ray device has to bebrought into a position in which it must be attached for example not onthe tube 30 but alongside it (for example at 90° to the representationin FIG. 3), in order to carry out an examination there. In such alateral position, the X-ray device then still needs to be fixed to thetube 30 by suitable means, for example by a belt (which is howeverperfectly familiar to a person skilled in the art and therefore does nothave to be described in more detail), so that it does not fall beneathit.

While the invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments thereof, it will be understood by those having ordinaryskill the art that various changes may be made therein without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention. Further, the presentinvention is not limited to the embodiments described herein; referenceshould be had to the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 housing

2 first end

3 second end

4 longitudinal axis

5 diameter

6 X-ray window

10 first mounting device

11 axle

12 first wheel

13 second wheel

14 recess

15 fixing handle

16 connecting strap

17 first handle

18 holding part

19 mounting part

20 second mounting device

21 second handle

22 connecting strap

30 tube

1-14. (canceled)
 15. A handle for a housing of a portable X-ray devicecomprising: an annular base body including a holding part and a mountingpart; a mounting device disposed in the mounting part and including twowheels spaced apart from one another on a common axle and a recessbetween the two wheels, wherein the two wheels protrude beyond an outercontour of the annular base body; and connecting straps disposed on theholding part and configured to connect the annular base body to thehousing.
 16. The handle as recited in claim 15, wherein the mountingdevice includes a fixing device configured to fix the two wheels. 17.The handle as recited in claim 16, wherein the fixing device includes afixing handle projecting beyond the mounting device.
 18. The handle asrecited in claim 15, wherein the recess includes an arc shape.
 19. Thehandle as recited in claim 18, wherein the recess does not extend to thecommon axle.
 20. The handle as recited in claim 15, wherein the holdingpart includes a carrier ring.
 21. The handle as recited in claim 15,wherein the holding part is planar in a holding part plane.
 22. Thehandle as recited in claim 21, wherein the holding part is symmetricalabout a plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the holding partplane, and wherein the two wheels are each disposed at a same distancefrom the plane of symmetry.
 23. The handle as recited in claim 21,wherein the mounting part is not diposed in the holding part plane, andwherein the common axle extends parallel to the holding part plane. 24.The handle as recited in claim 15, wherein the housing includes alongitudinal axis and a maximum diameter perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis, and wherein the common axle is aligned so as to beperpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the two wheels protrude alongthe longitudinal axis at least partially beyond the maximum diameter ofthe housing.
 25. The handle as recited in claim 24, wherein the twowheels are each disposed at a same distance from the longitudinal axis.26. The handle as recited in claim 15, wherein the handle includes afirst and a second handle, the first handle connected to a first end ofthe housing and the second handle connected to a second end of thehousing.
 27. The handle as recited in claim 26, wherein the common axleof the mounting device of the first handle and the common axle of themounting device of the second handle are congruent along thelongitudinal axis.
 28. The handle as recited in claim 26, wherein therecess of the mounting device of the first handle and the recess of themounting device of the second handle are congruent along thelongitudinal axis.